BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of February 13, 2007

 

 

A special joint meeting with the City of Stevenson was held at 8:20 a.m. on Monday, February 12, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, for the purpose of authorizing additional funds for deepening and widening Rock Creek due to the Piper Road landslide activity.  Present were representatives from the City of Stevenson, Skamania County Public Works Director/County Engineer, and Jim Jacks, SW Washington Regional Representative for Governor Gregoire’s Office.  Discussion included costs to date for the Rock Creek deepening and widening project, protection of the City’s sewer treatment plant, update on the slide activity, and the need for monitoring the water level in Rock Creek.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously that the County would accept responsibility for costs exceeding the $150,000 agreed to in the Memorandum of Understanding between the County and the City for emergency and mitigation works related to the lower portion of Rock Creek, with the stipulation that Skamania County Public Works would monitor the costs and report to the Board when the amount reaches $300,000.

 

The meeting recessed at 8:45 a.m., Monday, February 12, 2007 and reconvened at 9:35 a.m. Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association (VEBA) and surplus of County-owned real estate, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of February 6, 2007.

2.       Request for proposals & qualifications for architectural consulting services to update a space needs assessment, and prepare final design and bid documents for Rock Creek Community Services center Project, set deadline to receive proposals for 4:00 PM Friday March 30, 2007, set date to open proposals for 10:10 AM Tuesday, April 3, 2007.

3.       Set public hearing for 11:15 AM Thursday, March 1, 2007 to consider Supplemental Budget #4 for 2006 to supplement budgets for various department funds due to unanticipated expenditures and revenues unknown at the time of passing the 2006 budget. 

4.       Resolution 2007-02 distribution 2006 of federal forest fund receipts from Treasurer's Trust.

5.       Resolution 2007-09 appointing Jamie Tolfree and Leanne Marley to Columbia Gorge Housing Authority.

6.       Agreement with Military Dept to provide public assistance for repairs and response to the November 2006 flood event.

7.       Agreement with Washington Gorge Action Programs for subrecipient of Community Development Block Grant funds to provide public services to low-and moderate-income persons within Skamania & Klickitat Counties.

8.       Collection agreement with USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest for operations, maintenance, repair & improvements of shared infrastructure systems at Wind River Site.

9.       Interlocal agreement with City of Stevenson for the promotion of events in Stevenson to attract tourists.

10.    Agreement with Dept of Ecology for grant funding for Instream Flow Part B, Western WRIA 29-Wind River.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to ratify the Chair’s signing of the Piper Road Slide and Rock Creek Mitigation.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to ratify the Chair’s signing of contracts with Fred Newman Logging, Inc.; Jefferson Excavation; Gail Collins Construction, LLC; and Wind River Logging Company for the deepening and widening of Rock Creek due to the Piper Road landslide activity.

 

Chris Hughey, Stevenson Community Librarian advised of a grant writing workshop at Stevenson Library on Friday, March 9, 2007 sponsored by Fort Vancouver Regional Library and the Nonprofit Network.

 

Heidi Wear advised of concern with potential development in Section 20 on the West Fork of the Washougal River and requested a 20-acre zoning for the area.

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer gave an update on the Piper Road landslide and the deepening and widening of Rock Creek.

 

Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director reported on new transit buses and wheelchair ramp equipped mini-vans, On Spot chains for one transit bus, an upcoming celebration of the third anniversary of the transit system, updating policies and procedures for Homecare, volunteer hours, and program counts for January 2007.

 

The 2006 Annual Report and an update on the Wind River Public Development Authority (PDA) was presented by Peggy Bryan, Economic Development Director and Tom Linde, PDA Chair.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 13, 2007 and reconvened at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday, February 14, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss the Piper Road/Rock Creek landslide, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss the draft comprehensive plan text, and draft Swift Subarea text, slide area, draft storm water utility district, milfoil, Salmon Falls Park and Ride expansion project, Black Bear software program, draft letter regarding Carson Creek, and Westend Section 20, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday, February 14, 2007 and reconvened at 1:25 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 1:25 p.m. until 1:55 p.m., with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve a memorandum of agreement with Evergreen Forest County Group to serve as a Washington, D.C. government relation’s advisor to Skamania County.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 14, 2007 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m. Thursday, February 15, 2007, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Walt Loehrke, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) member reported on the CRGC meeting of February 13, 2007.  Discussion included Celilo Falls Exhibit, development in the Gorge, Broughton project, budget, Plan amendments, and by-law changes.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve 13th month vouchers for the period ending December 31, 2006 in the total amount of $10,334.74.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending February 15, 2007 in the total amount of $122,121.97.

 

Greg Cox, National Scenic Area (NSA) Administrative and Natural Resource Manager reported on National Scenic Area Forest Service.  Discussion included Salmon Falls Trail System, bicyclists on Forest Service trails, Upper Wind River Road, and development in Skamania County.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m. Thursday, February 15, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON